The Israelites spent 40 years on a journey that should have lasted 11 days! WOW! "It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea." (Deut 1:2) The Israelites were near the verge of the Promised Land, whilst the last forty years they were wandering up and down in the vicinity of this place, not being permitted by God to enter into the promised rest, even though they were the whole of that time within a few miles of the land of Canaan!

 

It wasn’t distance that stood between the Israelites and the Promised Land. It was the condition of their hearts! Israel did not have to spend 40 years on the way to the Promised Land. God sentenced them to wilderness wanderings because they rejected God's love, rebelled against His authority, ignored His commands for right living, lack of faith and willfully broke their end of the agreement made in Exodus 19:8 & 24:3-8:  The Israelites said: “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” So Moses brought back the words of the people to the Lord."  In short, they rebelled against God, disobeyed God and broke their promise made to God! 

 

God’s purpose of this 40 days journey went deeper than simply transporting a huge group of people to a new land. He was preparing them to live in obedience to Him once they arrived. What good was the Promised Land if the Israelites were just as wicked as the nations already living there? The journey was a painful but necessary part of their preparation. Through it God taught the Israelites who He was: the living God, the Leader of their nation! He also taught them who they were: people who were fallen, sinful, prone to rebellion, doubt and disobedience. He gave His rebellious people the law to help them understand how to relate to God and to other people, but they failed to obey! 

 

Our spiritual pilgrimage may be lengthy, and we may face pain, discouragement, and difficulties. But remember that God isn’t just trying to keep us alive. He is preparing us to live for service and devotion to Him whilst living on Earth, whilst He is also preparing us for what is to come, the rapture (the return of Christ) and eternal life in the Lord's presence! Hallelujah!! Glory, praise and honor be to God alone! 

 

Beloveds, we often make our life’s journey more difficult than necessary by disobedience. May our Lord, God help us to accept His love, to read and follow His commands in the Bible, and make a promise to stand with God whatever our situation! Only then, we will find that our life will be less complicated and more rewarding! AMEN!